While You Shine by The Velvoids: Review

by Gabe Finch February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

‘While You Shine’ by The Velvoids is for you if you like listening to music that makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. This newly released masterpiece sounds like it was made in the sixties, with all of its vintage inspirations and brilliant lyrics. The distorted vocals and trippy tremolo guitar tones create a mesmerizingly dark atmosphere that melts away any sense of self-awareness and leaves you feeling soft and numb.

The chime at the beginning of the phrase establishes the pace, and the tom-heavy drum fill introduces the rest of the band; the melody then drones throughout the majority of the phrase. The smart ambiance of the music is enhanced by the illogical lyrics, making this a deliciously odd pick. There is sectionality to the tune, but the repeating melodies make it hard to tell where one chunk ends and another begins, giving it a dynamic energy that keeps you feeling just a little bit gloomy, as is customary for the genre.

‘While You Shine’ is in keeping with The Velvoids’ style while also showcasing some of their creative leaps forward in terms of songwriting, composition, and production. Half-time rhythmic sequences, basslines that seem like they’re coming straight out of a record player, gorgeous chord progressions, stunning vocal harmonies, and piano melodies and accents all feature prominently.